BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF PROF ISAAC I. OSAKWE

Prof. Isaac I. Osakwe was born in Sapele, Delta state of Nigeria. He attended Awka Etiti High school, Awka Etiti from 1970 – 1974, where he obtained Division One in the West African School Certificate. He proceeded immediately to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1974 – 1979 where he obtained B. Agric (Animal Science) with second class honors upper division. From 1982 – 1985 he was again at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he obtained his M.Sc. degree in Animal Nutrition.

Prof Osakwe then worked for the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA, now ILRI) Ibadan humid zone program for six and a half years before proceeding to the University of Hohenheim, Germany for a post graduate study at the end of which he bagged his Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition in the year 1999.

Prof Osakwe worked in the United Kingdom briefly before coming back to Nigeria and was offered appointment as a senior lecturer in the department of Animal Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in 2001. Prof Osakwe has published extensively in national and international journals and has over 75 articles to his credit. He was elevated to the position of Professor of Ruminant Nutrition in the year 2007. He has served as Head, Department of Animal Production and Fisheries Management, Dean of Faculty of Agric., Head, Department of Animal Science, Ebonyi State University. He transferred his service to Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State. At AE-FUNAI, he has served as Director of Research and Development, Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies and is currently Dean, Faculty of Agriculture.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Prof Osakwe is a Fellow of the World Ecumenical Scholarship Programme, Germany from 1994 – 1999 for post graduate studies leading to the award of a Ph.D. degree in ruminant nutrition. Research interest focused on the effects of selected tannin containing browse plants on energy metabolism and digestion parameter of West African dwarf sheep and goats. Research findings have been widely published in reputable national and international journals and presented at different international fora.

Grazing trials under alley farming systems in combination with different grass species using sheep and goats is another area of great interest that has received invitation to present research findings at international conferences. Some of these invitations for oral presentation also received sponsorship for the trip.

Recently, interest has been developed in the area of Issues in Sustainable Research and Development and Deployment Strategies in Nigeria as well as sustainable animal production in humid tropics. Papers have been presented at international conferences on these topics with sponsorship for the trip.

Some of the awards/fellowships he received include: International Conference in Gosier, Guadeloupe (French West Indies) 7th-13th march, 2009; COVIDSET 2009 Conference, Kampala, Uganda 23rd-25th November 2009; Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (EED) Germany 6th-14th October 2008; German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Germany 31st July -9th Sept. 2006; Ecumenical Scholarship Program, Germany 1994 – 1999; University of Nigeria Post Graduate Fellowship 1982; Federal Government of Nigeria Scholarship 1975-1979.

He is a member of many Societies, Associations and Professional bodies such as Nigerian Institute of Animal Science; Animal Science Association of Nigeria; Biotechnology Society of Nigeria; American Society of Animal Science; Nigeria Society of Animal Production and Poultry Association of Nigeria. Prof Osakwe has travelled widely and can speak English language, Igbo, German and some French.